| |  | |  UN seeks mass evacuation of refugees from Libya Conditions along Libya's border with Tunisia are at a crisis point, according to the United Nations, which Tuesday urged a mass humanitarian evacuation of tens of thousands of ethnic Egyptians and other third-country nationals. While more than 140,000 people have fled over the past two weeks, some 75,000 have gathered along the border with Tunisia, with 40,000 more still waiting to cross. European countries including Britain, France and Spain have begun emergency airlifts of refugees. Reportedly, sub-Saharan Africans exiting Libya are under threat, because of stories that embattled leader Moammar Gadhafi recruited African mercenaries in his fight to keep power. The Wall Street Journal/The Associated Press (3/1), BBC (3/2), Google/The Associated Press (3/2)     
|  |  | It was clear to me as I saw these desperate people pour across the border -- more than 2,000 an hour -- that the world must act -- and must act quickly -- to prevent a major humanitarian disaster." UN World Food Programme director Josette Sheeran. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "Before a global immunization campaign known as the Measles Initiative was founded in 2001, about 750,000 children around the world died from the disease each year. Since then, the number of Measles related deaths dropped by about 78% globally." UN Dispatch | |
- Libya is removed from UN Human Rights Council
The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday ejected Libya from the Human Rights Council in a near-unanimous vote, a rare step by a world body whose members are wary about interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The move was initiated by six countries -- Botswana, Gabon, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria and Qatar -- and subsequently co-sponsored by 72 others. The Christian Science Monitor (3/1) - Carter sees end for guinea worm disease
Only three countries in the world -- Sudan, Mali and Ethiopia -- still have cases of the parasitic disease guinea worm and the disease will soon be eradicated worldwide, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says. Campaigners have used water filters and larvicide to drive down the number of reported cases to only 1,800 in 2010. The New York Times (free registration) (2/28) - FAO urges aid shift to agricultural development
Donor governments are considering changes to the Food Aid Convention after drastic changes in food prices in recent years and the social unrest the increases have caused. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is encouraging developed countries to shift aid away from emergency response supplies to efforts that promote agricultural development. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (3/1) - Funds are needed for Chernobyl shield
The European Union's Nuclear Safety Unit is seeking funds for the construction of a new containment shelter at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine, which was the site of a catastrophic explosion in 1986. There are concerns that the reaction could resume leaking deadly radiation. The Independent (London) (2/28) - Pillay calls on Zimbabwe to end crackdown
Zimbabwean authorities should release dozens of activists detained for discussing popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right Navi Pillay says. Zimbabwe has been criticized by rights advocates in recent weeks for a crackdown against civil society, political opposition figures and human rights campaigners. Reuters (3/1) - China clamps down on largely nonexistent protests
The Chinese government, anxious over anonymous online calls for revolution in the spirit of those sweeping across the Middle East, has established no-reporting zones in Beijing and Shanghai to stop journalists from covering demonstrations that, effectively, do not even exist. The restrictions, which would reverse laws governing news media that were liberalized prior to the Olympics in 2008, are on the heels of tighter Internet censorship and surveillance of rights advocates and other dissidents. The New York Times (free registration) (3/1)  | - Yemenis rally in greater numbers
 Opposition parties in Yemen were united in rejecting the offer by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to form a unity government as tens of thousands of people demonstrated Tuesday in cities across the country in the Arabian Peninsula. Saleh, who also fired five provincial governors, accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the unrest that threatens to topple his long-standing rule. The Washington Post (3/1), BBC (3/1) - U.K. pushes Libyan no-fly zone
The United States and United Kingdom are in disagreement over the feasibility of establishing a no-fly zone over Libya, with the former claiming such a measure is not only challenging militarily, but hard to implement diplomatically. Moreover, observers say a no-fly zone is unjustified without proof leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi has used Libyan aircraft to put down protests, or fly in African mercenaries, and could even discredit the pro-democracy movement as unduly influenced by outsiders. The Guardian (London) (3/1) - Second Pakistani leader is assassinated over blasphemy law
The Pakistani minorities minister who predicted his own death at the hands of Islamic militants was assassinated today by gunmen who attacked the vehicle in which he was traveling in Islamabad, the capital. Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, was the second Pakistani senior official to be killed this year over blasphemy laws that call for the death penalty in cases in which one is seen to insult Islam. BBC (3/2), Reuters (3/2) - Cote D'Ivoire political crisis continues
Three months after elections sparked a violent political crisis in Cote D'Ivoire, President Laurent Gbagbo continues to cling to power as businesses close and residents leave their homes to escape the violence. Gbagbo has refused to accept election results that showed him losing to challenger Alassane Ouattara or yield to intense international pressure to step down. The New York Times (free registration) (3/1)
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